More Money Thursday roundup: Accidental foreclosures & free cable TV

Posted by admin on March 11, 2010

Personal finance from around the web:

• A 46-year-old Pittsburgh woman is suing Bank of America for mistakenly repossessing her home and confiscating her prized pet parrot. The woman's mortgage was up to date, but she says it took her a week to recover her beloved bird and six weeks to get BofA to clean up the mess it left. As foreclosures rise, mistakes like this become more frequent, experts say. [ABC News]

• A financial reform bill will be released on Monday, says Sen. Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. [WSJ.com]

• Meanwhile, the proposed federal consumer protection agency may exempt some of those who need to be regulated the most: payday lenders, pawn brokers, car dealers and other non-bank lenders. [The Washington Post]

• You can watch all the TV you want — without having to pay for cable. A little technical expertise and the Internet are all you need. [The New York Times]

• Everybody knows how important it is to diversify your investments. But don't stop there: Put some thought into diversifying your income. [Five Cent Nickel]

Follow More Money on Twitter at http://twitter.com/moremoneyblog.

More Money Thursday roundup: The frugal rich & tax breaks for car buyers

Posted by admin on March 4, 2010

Personal finance from around the web:

• Chase unveiled changes to the rewards program on its Freedom card this week. Now customers will be able to earn 5%, instead of just 3%, cash back on certain spending categories. [Chase, eCreditDaily]

• Meanwhile, Chase is also sending out new cardmember agreements stating that "your account may be in default if any of the following applies:  . . . we obtain information that causes us to believe that you may be unwilling or unable to pay your debts to us or to others on time." That may not be the dreaded "universal default," but it's still pretty grim for the cardholder.[Credit Slips]

• Is being frugal the new trend among the nation's wealthiest? A Schwab study says yes, but one blogger doesn't buy it. [Bankrate.com]

• This month, MONEY wrote about the best money websites, including ones that can help you with health care decisions. WalletPop highlights a few more useful health destinations on the web. [WalletPop]

• If you bought a new car in 2009, take advantage of these breaks to to trim your tax bill. [AP]

Follow More Money on Twitter at http://twitter.com/moremoneyblog.

Video: Comedian Defends Leno’s Return (source: CBS News)

Posted by admin on March 3, 2010

Only on the Web: CBS News’ Ken Lombardi speaks with “The Tonight Show” contributor Jim Norton, who says that Jay Leno has been unfairly portrayed in the media over the infamous “Late-Night Wars.” (source: CBS News) – News widgets and RSS feeds on Feedzilla.com

More Money Tuesday roundup: Olympic taxes & bizarre places to hide cash

Posted by admin on March 2, 2010

• Reviewing the tax-exempt status of the U.S Olympic Committee uncovers some interesting details. In 2007, $35 million went to administrative salaries, benefits, and other compensation. The athletes that year got about $14 million in “grants.” [Tax Policy Center]

• A historical comparison of Detroit and San Francisco incomes: not a pretty picture. [Infectious Greed]

• If you thought "Avatar" was the highest grossing film of all time, think again. Adjusting for inflation, "Gone with the Wind" takes the prize. [Economix]

• People get a little too creative when it comes to hiding their hard earned Money. Under the litter box? really? [Bargaineering]

• Skirts are getting shorter and shorter and, according to some,  this can only mean the economy is about to improve. [Walletpop]

Follow More Money on Twitter at http://twitter.com/moremoneyblog.

More Money Friday roundup: Refunds for Yelpers & the best tax-prep program

Posted by admin on February 26, 2010

Personal finance from around the Web:

• Posting a nasty review on a consumer review Web site like Yelp may do more than just help you vent your frustrations. You could score refunds or discounts from a vendor eager to get back into your good graces. [Los Angeles Times]

• Editors at USA Today and CNET tested out TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxAct. TurboTax looks like the winner, but you can check out more in-depth reviews here and here. [USA Today, CNET]

• Millennials are having a tough time in finding full-time work in today's economy, so many of them are adapting. As they take contract work and make their own arrangements for health insurance and retirement, they may be the ideal workers for the post-recession economy. [Newsweek]

• Investors are suing homeowners associations in Las Vegas for allegedly charging excessive fines and other costs that accrued while homes were going through the foreclosure process. [Las Vegas Sun]

• Do you like shopping at Amazon.com, Macy's and Wal-Mart? Apparently, crooks like big-box stores, too. They're among the most popular destinations for users of stolen credit cards or credit card information. [ABC News]

Follow More Money on Twitter at http://twitter.com/moremoneyblog.

More Money Wednesday roundup: Wealthiest religions & Google's guide to credit cards

Posted by admin on February 24, 2010

Personal finance from around the Web:

• New-home construction may be edging upward, but sales aren't keeping pace. New-home sales fell 11.2 percent in January, as reported by the Commerce Department, hitting a record low. [The New York Times]

• Exploding Ford Pintos, lead-laden toys — take a trip down memory lane with "the worst product recalls of all time." This gallery might just take your mind off of your Toyota anxiety. [The Huffington Post]

• You've probably compared incomes using every other variable in the book. What about religion? Here's the breakdown of finance by faith. See which religions are America's most affluent. [Good]

• Google is testing an online credit card comparison tool. But don't get too excited. You can only be a trial run guinea pig if you live in the UK. [Pocket-lint]

• The waiting game is the one to play if you are looking to milk the most from your social security benefits. If you can put off receiving them until 66, the amount on your check will increase by one third. [CBS MoneyWatch]

Follow More Money on Twitter at http://twitter.com/moremoneyblog.

More Money Monday roundup: Bull market 2.0 & tequila at home

Posted by admin on February 8, 2010

Personal finance from around the Web:

• Sweet savings for Valentine's Day: Five easy tips on how not to break the bank — or disappoint — on February 14. [Globe Investor]

• To circumvent competing with unbeatable deals on the Internet, many brands are removing the price tags from listings on e-commerce sites. Consumers must put items in their "shopping cart" and proceed to the virtual checkout before they know their total. [The New York Times]

• Is Happy Hour at home just as happy? New research shows that in the current economy more Americans are enjoying cocktails from the comfort of their living rooms. Their recession beverage of choice? Tequila. [Wallet Pop]

• S&P 500 slump got you down? It's just the second stage of a bull market, says one commentator. Look to auto and house sales instead as the benchmarks for recovery. [Bloomberg]

• It takes a village — maybe one that senior citizens are joining through the Internet. Online "communities" are cropping up across the country, providing tools for living out retirement communally — without having to relocate. [The Best Life]

Add More Money to your favorite RSS reader.  Subscribe at http://rss.cnn.com/moneyfeatures.rss.

More Money Tuesday roundup: Whole Foods' Biggest Loser discount & California's dim bulbs

Posted by admin on January 26, 2010

More Money Wednesday roundup: Dumpster diving & a Twinkie tax

Posted by admin on January 13, 2010

More Money Monday roundup: Falling dollar & fuzzy math

Posted by admin on January 11, 2010